This brings me to the way the conversation around the vaccine has been framed as some easy black and white decision. As if there’s no nuance whatsoever in the population of people who don’t want to get vaccinated. It’s not fair to lump everyone into one category and not try and understand what some of the reasons are behind vaccine hesitancy. Instead, there are mandates now keeping people out of places that have made the decision not to get the shot, and let’s face it - lot of the people who aren’t getting vaccinated are black and brown folks.
Another American Historical Failure: Mishandling of the Pandemic
What has been really turning over in the ol’ noggin these last few weeks is how we as a nation continue to reconcile the failings of the US Government and our many institutions, specifically as it pertains to the pandemic. It hasn’t been said nearly enough: Our Government failed its duty to protect its citizens during a global pandemic and nobody is taking responsibility. It’s beyond the president.
Forgive Yourself, Keep Going
Imagining I’m here.
This is advice I am constantly trying to give myself in moments like this where I’m feeling incredibly unmotivated and hopelessly petrified when it comes to completing any sort of task. It’s been a week of not updating the ol’ blog and it takes everything in me not to chalk it up to a complete failure of my mind or some kind of other lacking area on my part. I have to constantly remind myself that I am allowed to have good and bad days, productive and unproductive weeks, calm and tumultuous months. Not to mention that I am- we all are still experiencing a global pandemic that has completely upended our way of life and has resurfaced inequality in a way that is not only necessary but painfully devastating. It always helps me to read I’m not alone spiraling into oblivion, so I thought I‘d write out here how I’ve been handling things in case anyone else is feeling equally BLAH.
Staying Home for Thanksgiving: A Fowl Reality
Don’t worry lone pumpkin you’ll be reunited soon!
First and foremost this sucks. Thanksgiving is by far the best holiday because I love food (duh), and I get to see my extended family. This year I will not be taking my normal sojourn to the south to bask in the warm Miami air and post pics of the beach on my social media channels. No, I will be staying put this year, because the thought of getting on a plane and potentially bringing the virus to my family terrifies me. I know I’m not the only one making this sad decision, but I also see petulant pea-brains who are vehemently opposed to shuttering their hapless plans. It’s this unbridled selfishness being exhibited across the nation that truly worries me.
It's Not Politics: Wear The GD Mask
I absolutely cannot believe this has to be said, but wear a gd mask. Wear it. Even if you’re not sure what it does or if it makes you look like a cartoon character. Wear the mask because it has been proven to stop the widespread of this virus that is wreaking havoc on the entire world. I’m not sure when the president starting politicizing the use of masks, but he is undeniably at fault for where our country currently is and its speeding descent into chaos.
I remember when the announcement came from my company’s headquarters to close NYC offices and for everyone to start gathering their belongings to work from home. For how long? We all asked, but nobody was sure. Two weeks. I think it was maybe two weeks they thought and we’d be able to come back to the office. This was all done as a precaution before the state even announced the work from home mandate for non-essential workers. Everything was up in the air. It was all speculation at that point as no one was fully aware the extent of the virus or how infectious is was.
Before our office closed, I got back from a work summit in California and got pretty sick, but figured it was because I was around so many people for an extended time. This was before Cuomo’s daily numbers announcement and before we knew where the virus first landed. It was around that time, when I got back, people were hesitant to order Chinese food and there was all this racism against asian people. Absolutely insane. Remember that NY Times article?! I remember a coworker and I joking about how absurd people were and not thinking much of the virus itself or at least how it could potentially affect work. It feels like aeons ago. That was in FEBRUARY. I’m still unsure it was the virus, but at this point, who knows?! Kinda scary to think about…